Root-cutter.



PATENTBD JAN. 15, 1907.. G. W. KEELER. ROOT CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Application filed May 23, 1905. Serial No. 261,824.

1'0 (LZZ- whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE \IV. KEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Frankfort, in the county of Benzie and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Root-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in vegetable cutters and slicers designed particularly for use in slicing and splitting roots.

The main object of the present invention is the production of a slicer designed for ready and convenient operation in which the vegetable'is subjected to a slicing and splitting action.

The preferred details of structure will be described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved vegetable-cutter. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the knife or cutter. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the stripper-board.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, 1 represents a table of suitable dimensions formed with a central opening 2, and 3 represents a hopper supported on the table and extending vertically therefrom, the interior of the hopper being in communication with the opening 2 in the table, the sidewalls 4 of the hopper projecting below the table and being con nected by cross walls or strips 5 to provide a discharge-chute 1 6.

An operating-plate 7 is mounted for movement longitudinally of the table, having an edge head 8 on the sides and ends thereof, the side walls of the hopper proper terminating sufliciently above the table 1 to permit a sliding movement of the operating-plate therebeneath, said plate being formed with a central feed-opening 9, practically coextensive in width with the width of the plate.

10 represents a cutter comprising a single metallic plate having sharpened side edges and of a length to engage the opposite side bead 8 of the operating-plate, to which side beads the cutter is terminally secured. The cutter is mounted to overlie the opening 9 in the operating-plate and is provided with depending splitting-blades 11 in any desired number and ofa length to terminate immediately above the operating-plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The splitting-fingers are arranged a short distance inward from the operative edge of the cutter, whereby to act upon the material immediately subsequent to the operation of said cutting edge.

12 represents what I term stripperplates, comprising narrow elongated strips provided at their lower edges with laterallyprojecting strip per-fingers 13. The stripperplates are secured one to each side wall of the hopper proper, immediately above the operating-plate, with the stripper-fingers projecting inward interiorly of the hopper and in the path of the splitting-blades 11. The fingers 13 are of such size and so spaced as to fit easily between the splitting-blades 11, carried by the cutter in the operation of the latter, whereby to force the material from between said splitting-blades and prevent clogging thereof.

The operating-plate is reciprocated through the medium of a lever 14, pivotally connected at 15 to the edge bead 8 at one end of the operating-plate, one end of the lever being pivotally connected to a link 16, pivotally supported from an arm 17, projectedfrom the table.

Assuming the parts constructed. and arranged as described, the operation of my im proved vegetable-cutter is as follows: Roots or similar vegetables are fed into the hopper into the path of the cutter 10. The operating-plate carrying the cutter is reciprocated through operation of the lever, causing the cutter to slice the vegetable transverse its length, while the splitting-blades 11 on the respective edges of the cutter operate to split the slice longitudinally into a plurality of narrow strips. These strips are fed through the opening 9 in the operating-plate and through the discharge-chute 6 of the hopper into any suitable receptacle. The stripperfingers operate to force the material from between the splitting-blades in the reciprocating of the operating-plate, whereby clogging is prevented and the effective operation of the device maintained.

It is evident that any suitable operating mechanism may be substituted for the lever described, and other changes in the details of structure may be made; but I consider such as within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

It will be noted that under the construction described the cutter-carrying plate 7 is operatively assembled with the table 1, having the hopper 3 by the stripper plates or bars 12, which, are secured exteriorly upon the walls of the hopper and which are of such dimensions as to extend between the beads 8 at the side edges of the cutter-carrying plate, said stripper-bars being so mounted as to bear lightly against the upper surface of the cutter-carrying plate. The latter may thus be very conveniently removed when desired for the purpose of sharpening the cutters or to remove obstructions or for any other reason that may render it desirable to disassemble the parts. It will also benoted that the construction is one of extreme simplicity, the parts being few and simple and assembled or put together in such a manner that accidental derangernent is not liable to occur.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a device of the class descrlbed, a table having an aperture, a hopper having side walls secured upon and extending beneath the side edges of the table and end walls terminating above the upper surface of the latter, cross-strips connecting the side walls below the table adjacent to the aperture, an operating-plate supported to slide upon the table beneath the lower edges of the end walls of the hopper, said plate having beads at the sides and ends thereof and a feed-aperture, a cutter secured upon the side beads of the plate above the feed-aperture and having depending splitting-blades, stripper-bars secured exteriorly upon the end walls of the hopper above and contacting loosely with the operating-platewhich latter is thereby operatively assembled vwlth the table and hopper, and a suitably-supported operatinglever pivotally connected -with the bead at one end of the plate. a y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. KEELER.

/Vitnesses r H. L. KEELER, SOPHIA L. KEELER. 

